Damage deposit question

paulsm · 11 December 2006 at 2:32PM

Hi , I have just let my flat for 6 months and the tennant came out on friday, I went in to clean etc and found scuffed/ripped wallpaper and cuts in the kitchen worktop. I can get these done for around £80 and rang the estate agent who was handling it for me and she said she would ask the tennant is they could take £80 from the damage deposit. What is the point of leaving a damage deposit if they ask the tennant? He admitted the ripped paper when the EA went round when he moved out. Do they usually ask the tennant? I thought they would tell him not ask? Cheers for any help

Gorgeous_George · 11 December 2006 at 2:48PM

Does seem odd but it is better if any damage can be agreed. This will avoid ill-feeling. £80 seems very low for the damage reported.

GG

Alan_M_2 · 11 December 2006 at 2:50PM

There's a very fine line between damage and reasonable wear and tear, scratches on a worktop and scuffed wallpaper I'd class as wear and tear.

If an entire wall is a mess becuase some kid has attacked it that's different, but a few scuffs here and there where the movers have caught the walls bringing in a bit of furniture that's reasonable and down to you.

paulsm · 11 December 2006 at 2:53PM

the wallpaper has to be repaired as it wasnt like that when I let it , I managed to move out with out scratching the paper. as for cuts in the work top that is avoidable by using a chopping board so is therefor negligence in my view

silvercar · 11 December 2006 at 4:56PM

Scuffed wallpaper = wear & tear, torn wallpaper = damage.

No excuse for cuts on a worktop.

paulsm · 11 December 2006 at 5:00PM

He also kept an iguana there I have just found out , which could explain the smell , although the tenancy stated no pets could this affect anything?

rosysparkle · 11 December 2006 at 5:04PM

The agency should be holding the deposit as stakeholder for the landlord, they take you your instructions on deductions.

If you want a further deduction for cleaning, then instruct the agency accordingly.

The agency may have meant that they would get the tenant's view on the proposed deduction, to try and reach agreement between you.

Tassotti · 11 December 2006 at 5:08PM

paulsm wrote:

He also kept an iguana there I have just found out , which could explain the smell , although the tenancy stated no pets could this affect anything?

Iguanas are notoriously odious.

'No pets is an illegal clause'

If you can't afford to lose £80, get out of the lettings business

Harsh but true

Be lucky
Tass

paulsm · 11 December 2006 at 5:09PM

he has said he thinks £60 to hang a strip of wallpaper is too much , and says he has a friend who will do it , but as it is between 2 other drops I want the decorator to do it. cant I charge a fee for breaking the tanancy agreement?

paulsm · 11 December 2006 at 5:29PM

"If you can't afford to lose £80, get out of the lettings business"
I can but wont
I dont give in to messers

barnaby-bear · 11 December 2006 at 5:29PM

paulsm wrote:

cant I charge a fee for breaking the tanancy agreement?

:rotfl: You can try :rotfl: probably best to do so after he charges you a fee for adding that specific broken and unfair (OFT) and unenforcable clause...
:rotfl:
Some landlords know nothing about contracts or do you just make them up with crayons and glitter :rotfl:

Damage deposit question

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